Sara Olson

Sara Olson joined Avesta Housing in 2015 as the development & communications manager, and was promoted to director of development & communications in 2017. She guides the organization in resource development, internal and external communications, public relations, and brand management.

Prior to Avesta, Sara served in a variety of nonprofit leadership roles. Most recently, she was an independent contractor focused on development, communications, and business management. She also served as the director of development & alumni relations at a private school in Pennsylvania and the associate director of alumni admissions at the University of Pennsylvania.

Sara is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and has certificates in nonprofit management and fundraising from the University of Pennsylvania College of General Studies. She is currently an MBA candidate at the University of Maine. Sara serves as a board member for the Maine Public Relations Council and a board member for the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Northern New England. She previously served as a member of the Portland Chamber of Commerce’s Economic & City Affairs Committee. Sara is the recipient of the 2020 Maine Public Relations Council President’s Award and 2016 Avesta Housing “Quality” Core Value Award.